Gas-fired incinerator



Aug. 28, 1962 c. N. SINGLETON 3,051,100

GAS-FIRED INCINERATOR Filed Sept. 50, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Char/es N. Single/on lNVENTOR.

Aug. 28, 1962 c. N. SINGLETON 3,051,100

GAS-FIRED INCINERATOR Filed Sept. 50, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 Charles N. Single/an 1N VENTOR.

A 40% BY ym; 15%

United States Patent @flice 3,051,100 Patented Aug 28, 1962 3,051,100 GAS-FIRED KNEINERATOR Charles N. Singleton, 921 Hammond Ave, Aurora, Ill. Filed Sept. 30, 1958, fier. No. 764,327 3 Claims. (El. 110-8) The present invention generally relates to an incinerator for burning trash, refuse or the like which is adapted for use in residental or commercial use and which employs gas burners for burning the refuse together with gas-fired afterburners for complete burning and combustion of the material placed in the incinerator.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired incinerator incorporating certain novel features which will provide clean and efficient burning and which generally incorporates a combustion chamber having gas-fired power burners together with oppositely disposed afterbur ners wmch will burn any gases escaping through the exhaust and will completely remove all odors from the exhaust and which will also consume minute particles of fly ash.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an incinerator incorporating in its construction a bleeder baffle for relieving pressure under the grate created by the downward pressure from the main burner with the pressure escaping upwardly which will act as a coolant for the baflle and create air turbulence above the flame from the main burner.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide a deflector arrangement which facilitates the turbulence of the air and provides a funneliru or guiding function for the exhaust gases through the afterburners.

Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of double breeching extending from the upper end of the incinerator to the exhaust pipe for purposes of reducing the stack temperature and generally mixing the exhaust gases with air rising between the combustion chamber and outer shell of the incinerator.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a gas-fired incinerator which is extremely simple in construction, eflicient in operation, easy to operate and clean, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the incinerator of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2' of FIGURE 1 illustrating the internal details of construction of the gas-fired incinerator;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the details of the double breeching construction at the exhaust area of the incinerator;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4--4 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the arrangement of the afterburners and other structural features of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the details of the burner arrangement and gas supply pipe; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 65 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the bleeder baffie and the orientation thereof in relation to the remainder of the incinerator.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the incinerator of the present invention which generally includes an outer shell designated by the numeral 12 and including end walls 14 and 16 and sidewalls 18 and 20. The walls are interconnected by a top 22 which is continuous therewith and connected to the walls by rounded edges and corners. The bottoms of the outer shell or wall 12' is open and spaced from a supporting surface and the outer shell 12 encloses an inner shell or combustion chamber generally designated by the numeral 24 and including end walls 26 and 28 and side walls 30 and 32. Adjacent the bottom of the incinerator 10, the shell 12 is spaced from the inner housing 24 by a spacer 34 extending along the end wall 28 and the two side walls 39 and 32 which spacer 34 is provided with a plurality of openings 36 for permitting passage of air together with an upturned outer flange 38 engaging the interior of the end wall 16 and side walls 18 and 20. Supporting brackets 4t) are attached to the corners of the lower end of the inner housing 24 and the brackets 40 each receives a levelling screw 4-2 having a foot or pad 44 on the lower end thereof for levelling the incinerator 10.

An ash drawer 46 is inserted into the interior of the incinerator through an opening or omitted portion '48 in the front end wall 14-. The drawer 46 is in the form of a receptacle having an outer wall 5d larger than the opening 43 for overlapping the edges thereof together with a handle 52 for manipulating the drawer 46. The drawer 46 rests upon a bottom member 54 which extends between the end walls 26 and 28 andwhich slidably supports the drawer 46.

Extending transversely between the side walls 30 and 32 is an inclined wall portion 56 which actually forms part of the end wall 26 and which extends downwardly in an inclined manner and is connected then to a vertically extending portion 58 which extends vertically downward to a position immediately above the open top of the drawer 46 and this portion 58 terminates in an outwardly extending portion 60 which is connected to the wall 14 of the outer shell 12. Also connected to the downwardly and inwardly inclined portion 56 is a support member 62 for one edge of a grate 64. The other edge of the grate 64 is supported in a horizontally disposed inwardly facing channel-shaped member 66 thereby supporting the grate in position on three sides by Virtue of the side channel shaped members 68 with the supporting member 62 forming an interconnection for the portion 56 and 58. It is noted that the channel shaped member 66 is spaced from the end wall 28 and extending upwardly therefrom is an inclined bleeder b afile 70 which is spaced from the wall 28 at the top thereof and which extends the full width of the combustion chamber or inner housing 24- and provides an escape route for air forced downwardly through the grate 68 by the power blower and burner. The bleeder baflie 70 may be supported and retained in position by vertical plates 72 extending between the baffle 70 and the end wall '28.

The inner casing 24 is provided with a top wall '74 which forms a closure for the inner casing 24 and extends outwardly beyond the inner casing 24 and engages the inner periphery of the outer shell 12 with the outer edge thereof terminating in a downturned flange 76 with the area of the top member 74 between the inner casing or housing 24 and the outer shell 12 being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 78 which provide for air passage between the inner housing 24 and the outer shell 12 for retaining the outer shell 12 in a cool condition and also for supplying air to the inner surface of the top wall 22 of the outer casing or shell 12 for a purpose described hereinafter. Extending between the top member 74 and the top wall 22 is a continuous outwardly inclined flange 80 forming an entrance opening or gate for trash which opening is designated by the numeral 82 and which is closed by a door 84 having a handle 86 thereon and which is reinforced by apertured plates 88 wherein the closure door 84 may be easily removed for inserting material into the interior of the incinerator.

Extending upwardly from the top wall 22 is a breeching member 90 which, at its base is oval shaped and which tapers down to a cyhndrical shape for engagement with 'a stove pipe or the like. The breeching 91) is connected to the top wall 22 by a flanged cylindrical mein ber 92. Connected to the top wall 74 of the inner housing 24 is an inner breeching member 94 extending upwardly from a discharge opening 96 of oval-shaped configuration in alignment with the opening in the top wall 22 defined by the breeching 98. The tapering oval shaped breeching 94 extends into the breeching 9t} and is generally concentric therewith and spaced in relation thereto. The oval shaped configuration of the breeching element 94 is shown clearly in FIGURE 3 and the tapered construction thereof is also shown in this figure.

Mounted adjacent the upper end of the end Wall 28 and generally above the upper end of the baffle 71} is a deflector 98 of generally V-shaped construction with the apex of the deflector 98 being disposed inwardly with the apex being designated by the numeral 180. The end edges of the deflector 98 extend alongside of the wall 28 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner. Mounted on the top wall 74 of the inner housing or casing 24 is a transverse baflie plate 102 extending downwardly from the inner edge of the opening 96 and inclined at generally a 45 included angle with the top wall 74 or a portion of its length and then being inclined at a lesser degree in relation to the top wall 74 with the outer edge of the baffle plate 18-2 extending downwardly as designated by the numeral 104 and having this part of the baffle plate 1112 supported by a support plate 106.

Disposed between the baffle plates or deflectors 28 and 102 is an afterburner construction which includes a transverse burner 108 in the form of a tubular member or pipe having jets or openings 110 therein with the burner 108 being disposed immediately above and generally in alignment with the apex 100 of the deflector 98. A second transverse burner 112 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to the burner 108 and is also in the form of a tubular pipe and is supported adjacent the lower region of the 45 angulated portion of the deflector 102 which disposes the same immediately adjacent the deflector 102 and in slightly lower position than the burner 108. The burner 112 is also provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures or jets 114 for purposes of producing a series of flames projected in a particular pattern. A pilot light 116 is supported on the deflector 102 and connected with a supply line 1 18 for igniting the afterburners 108 and 112. As clearly illustrated in FIGURE 4, the openings or jets 110 are in staggered relation to the openings or jets 114 whereby the flame produced by the individual jets or openings will be disposed in staggered or overlapping condition. Thus, the flame produced with the afterburner is overlapping and interlaced to completely remove all odors in escaping gas or exhaust and to consume minute particles of fly ash. The burner 108 is connected to a gas and air supply pipe 118 by an elbow coupling 120 while the burner 112 is connected with a gas and air supply pipe 122 by an elbow coupling 124. It is noted that the pipes 118 and 122 are disposed between the side walls of the outer shell or casing 12 and the inner casing or housing 24 and the supply line 117 for the pilot light 116 is disposed alongside of the supply pipe .122.

The end of the burner 188 remote from the coupling 102 extends through an opening 126 in the side wall 32 and is secured to a plate 128 on the outer surface 4 of the wall 32. The plate 128 is locked in angularly adjusted position by a screw threaded fastener 138 which may be inserted in one of a series of arcuately arranged apertures or the plate 128 may have an arcuate slot therein for adjusting the angular position of the plate 128. The outer end of the burner 188 is provided with a cap 132 which also serves as a handle for rotating the burner 1118-. An inspection plate 134 is provided on an opening 136 in the side wall 211 of the outer shell 12 and the inspection plate 18-1 is hingedly attached thereto by hinge means 138 and is secured in position by a fastener 141i whereby the hand grip or closure cap 132 may be grasped or engaged by a suitable wrench for rotating the burner 188 so that the flame produced thereby may be angulated upwardly or downwardly. The pipe 112 is provided with a similar construction including the angularly adjustable plate 142, end cap 144 and inspection plate 146. When the burners 1118 and 112 are disposed in the manner as shown in FIGURE 2, that is angulated upwardly, the flames tend to assist or force the exhaust upwardly thus increasing the exit volume and when the flames are inclined downwardly, they will retard the exit of the exhaust gases and generally retard combustion. The deflectors 98 and 102 are such that the deflector 98 will continue clockwise turbulence of the air coming up behind the hleeder baflie 70 and generally restricts the exhaust or escape outlet and guides the exhaust through the afterburners. The heated air passing up through the afterburners and up through the hreeching will cause a slight vacuum between the inner and outer shell or pulling in fresh air and mixing the same with the exhaust products thus keeping the outer shell 12 cool and preventing injury from contact with hot surfaces.

Mounted on the front wall 26 and between the front wall 26 and the front wall 14 is an electric motor 148 having a squirrel cage blower 151 mounted thereon with the blower and motor 148 being mounted on a bracket 152 supported on the horizontal portion 60 of the front wall 26. The tangential discharge of the blower designated by the numeral 154 extends vertically and is provided with a safety check valve 156 which connects with a vertically extending gas and air mixing area 158 which extends into a T-joint 1611 which feeds the supply lines 118 and 122 and also feeds a supply line 162 extending inwardly through the front wall 26 and terminating in a downwardly and inwardly inclined burner nozzle 164. The gas supply line is designated by the numeral 166 and may extend into the area above the horizontal portion 60 in any suitable direction and the gas supply line 166 is connected to a basoid valve generally designated by the numeral 168 which includes a main housing 171 a solenoid 172 and a reset button 174. A discharge line 176 is provided on the main housing 171) in opposition to the inlet line 166 and connects to the gas and air mixing chamber or area 158. The basoid valve 168 is provided with twin pilot taps 178 and 180 which are disposed in alignment with each other and are somewhat hidden in FIGURE 5 and the basoid valve is also provided with a thermocouple tap connected with the thermo-safety control 182 disposed below the pilot light 184 below the main burner nozzle 164. The pilot light 184 for the main burner is connected with one of the pilot light taps 178 while the line 122 is connected with the other of the taps. The main burner nozzle, the pilot light 184 and the thermocouple unit 182 operate in generally the same manner as in a gas burner of a conventional nature. The gas lines may be provided with suitable valves and air orifices wherever needed or desired. A timer unit 186 with a control knob 188 is mounted in the wall 12 and connected with the burner unit for operating the device in the desired cycle or for a predetermined length of time. Also, a safety switch 190 is provided on the top wall 70 with a plunger 1'92 disposed in the path of movement of the door whereby the incinerator will immediately stop if the door 84 is lifted while the same is in operation and also preventing the operation of the incinerator if the door is not properly positioned.

While the various dimensions of the device may vary, one form of the invention has dimensions in which the incinerator is substantially 35 inches in height and 26 inches in depth and inches wide. The afterburners are arranged with 11 openings in afterburner 1% arranged on each inch with the end openings being three inches from the side walls and 32. The afterburner 112 has ten openings therein arranged on the half inch and having the end openings 3%. inches from the side walls 30 and 32. There generally is a 2 inch space all the way around between the outer shell and the inner housing and the combustion chamber may be constructed of 13 gauge hot roll steel with a one by one by one-eighth angle iron on all four corners. The outer breeching is formed by deforming a standard 9 inch stove pipe at one end into an oblong shape approximately five inches wide and 12 inches long. The bleeder battle is 13 inches high and open two inches at the bottom and one inch at the top and extends the full width of the combustion chamber. The combustsion chamber is 16 inches wide and the deflectors extend the full width thereof. The timer may be of any conventional construction with the purpose being to preselect time unit to run as determined by the size of charge placed therein. The motor and blower are of conventional construction and supply air under pressure for mixing air and gas to burners. The check valve prevents gas from escaping in case of motor failure and is required in gas burner units. The main burner may be adjusted to assure equal distribution to the burners and the main burner head or nozzle will be disposed over the charge so that the term over fire may be employed in describing the arrangement of the burner head. The pilot and thermocouple operate in the usual manner in that the thermocouple shuts oif the gas supply in case of pilot flame failure. The feed door and the walls defining the opening are perforated for air circulation for keeping the same as cool as possible and the safety switch or circuit breaker shuts off gas and electricity in the event the door is opened while the burner is operating. There is a refractory lining on the inside of the combustion chamber and which is optional but generally will give a longer life to the combustion chamber.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A gas-fired incinerator comprising an outer shell, an inner shell, each shell including an upper wall, means spacing the outer and inner shells from each other and permitting passage of air therebetween, a grate disposed horizontally in the inner shell adjacent the bottom thereof, the top region of the inner and outer shells having a passageway extending therethrough for providing access to the combustion area above the grate for inserting articles to be burned, a closure door for said access opening, a gas burner disposed above the grate and directed toward the grate for burning articles disposed on the grate, an upwardly extending exhaust breeching in the upper wall of the inner shell, an upwardly extending exhaust breeching in the upper wall of the outer shell, the breeching on the outer shell being larger than the breeching on the inner shell, the breeching on the inner shell extending upwardly into the breeching on the outer shell and defining an air passage between the breechings communicating with the space between the inner and outer shells for mixing the air drawn from between the inner and outer shells with the gas discharged from the combustion chamber within the inner shell out through the breeching on the inner shell, and afterburner means mounted in the inner shell adjacent to and on the inlet side of the breeching on the inner shell for burning the exhaust products of combustion as they pass therethrough and eliminating odors and fly ash, said afterburner means including a pair of deflectors for guiding the exhaust products and pinching the same into the breeching on the inner shell, and including a pair of spaced parallel transverse burners having a plurality of gas jets, said burners being disposed adjacent the deflectors and directing the flames generally towards each other for burning all of the exhaust products passing between the deflectors, each of said burners having a longitudinal axis and being rotatably mounted on their axes for directing the flames produced by the gas jets upwardly or downwardly for increasing the exit volume of exhaust products or decreasing the exit volume of exhaust products thereby determining the rate of burning of the material on the grate.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner shell is provided with a bleeder bafile extending transversely across the inner shell with the lower edge thereof connected with one edge of the grate remote from the gas burner and being spaced from the inner surface of the inner shell and extending upwardly from the grate with the upper end of the bafiie being spaced from the inner surface of the inner shell thereby forming a passageway for relieving pressure under the grate produced by downward forces of the gas burner.

3. A gas-fired incinerator comprising an outer shell, an inner shell, each shell having an upper wall, means spacing the outer and inner shells from each other and permitting passage of air therebetween, a grate disposed horizontally in the inner shell adjacent the bottom thereof, the top region of the inner and outer shells having a passageway extending therethrough for providing access to the combustion area above the grate for inserting articles to be burned, a closure door for said passageway, a gas burner disposed above the grate for burning articles disposed thereon, an exhaust breeching in the upper wall of the inner shell, an exhaust breeching in the upper wall of the outer shell, the breeching on the outer shell being larger than the breeching on the inner shell, the breeching on the inner shell extending upwardly into the breeching on the outer shell and defining an air passage between the breechings communicated with the space between the inner and outer shells for mixing the .air drawn from between the inner and outer shells with the combustion products discharged from the combustion chamber within the inner shell out through the breeching on the inner shell, and afterburner means mounted within the inner shell adjacent to and on the inlet side of the breeching on the inner shell for burning the combustion products as they pass therethrough thereby eliminating odor and fly ash, said afterburner means including a pair of de flectors for guiding the combustion products into the breeching on the inner shell, said afterburner means also including a pair of spaced parallel transverse burners having a plurality of gas jets, said burners being disposed adjacent the deflectors and directing the flames generally towards each other for burning all of the combustion products passing between the deflectors, the gas jets in one of said burners being staggered in relation to the gas jets in the other of said burners whereby the flames produced by the individual gas jets will be interlaced thereby assuring that all combustion products passing to the breeching will pass through the flame for completely igniting and burning all burnable material, said inner shell being provided with an imperforate bleeder baffle extending transversely completely across the inner shell, the lower edge of the bleeder baflle being connected with the edge of the grate remote from the gas burner, the edge of the grate and the lower edge of the bleeder baffle being spaced from the inner surface of the inner shell, said bleeder baffle extending upwardly from the grate with the upper end of the bleeder baflie being spaced from the inner surface of the inner shell thereby defining a passageway for relieving pressure under the grate, the upper edge of said bleeder bafiie being disposed below the afterburner means whereby the material passing upwardly between the bleeder baffle and the inner surface of the inner shell passes between the burners, said burners each having a longitudinal axis extending transversely of the inner shell and being rotatably supported thereby, whereby the burners may be rotated on their axes for directing the flames in a desired direction, one end of each of the rotatable burners extending outwardly of the inner shell, and handle means on the end of each burner extending outwardly of the inner shell for rotating the burners, said outer shell including access means in alignment with the handle means on the burners for enabling access to the 15 handle means.

Reterences (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain a". e m 

